D&D 4E Lost S04E3 14 Feb 2008 - The Economist

[Andrew D. Gable]

Well, since you found that comment (good find/memory!) I am now certain that Locke is the economist. What the heck is an economist anyway? I understand it might just be a front, but I would think the job title would fit in someway with the person.

I agree that Locke is actually looking like a front-runner at this point. Wasn't Locke an accountant at his previous job? (In one of his flashbacks... the first?) Plus, a furthering of the Locke/Ben rivalry would make sense. Now... of the two, who's good and who's not?

Reading up, the historical John Locke was pretty much a die-hard capitalist. An economist.

The entry also contained some interesting other information:

- Engineer is given as an occupation often in economist's backgrounds. Michael?
- Also, David Hume (as in Desmond) was an economist.
- She also commented on "emerging markets," which deals with industrializing nations. The mention of industry raises the specter of Alvar Hanso...

 

[RigaMortus2]

I just remember Locke working at a place that made boxes. Though, you might be right. He could have been an accountant in one of his previous jobs (and flashbacks, which I don't recall atm).

 

[Remus Lupin]

I'm not convinced the economist is anyone we've seen yet. The killing of the first guy, and the mentioning of a "list" suggests to me that these are people who were involved either with Oceanic airlines or with Hanso/Dharma, etc. I think Locke and others are still on the Island. I don't think Locke would leave even at the cost of his life.

 

[Mark]

I just re-watched the show, and I think there are some small comments that were made that might help decipher who this economist is (if they are someone current, and not someone yet to be introduced).

The comment made is when Sayid tells the German chick that she should tell her employer that there is newer technology out there. Referring to the fact she carries a beeper around rather than a cell phone.

To which she replies that her employeer is "very old fashioned".

This comment struck me. Do we know any current characters who are like this? Someone who prefers older technology to new? I can't think of anyone off hand, but I really don't think this was an innocent comment with no meaning behind it. I think it was a clue to the audience to help figure out who the economist is. Also, who is most likely to become an "economist"?

FWIW, right now I am also going with Locke, but not sure how the "old fashioned" thing fits into that...

I see what you mean about it possibly being someone not yet on the show.

The technology thing might just have been a way to avoid inevitable questions of why the show isn't creating props of some futuristic (yet-to-be-invented) technology. I'd imagine it nearly impossible for a 90s era show to have depicted today accurately enough with tech. Though they might also be using that to their advantage and referring to a character trait. Truly, that pager was a very integral part of the sequence and needed to be addressed in some manner.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Regarding the 4 new people. I think they each will unlock secrets to the island (remember, they were all hand picked).

Daniel I beleive will figure out the secrets to the whole "time" factor of the island, perhaps as well as the electromagnetic properties. Why it can cure cancer or broken legs. Why the women die giving birth (I think are all tied to the geographical phenomena going on here, and electromagnetics).

Miles I think will help us to figure out about the mysterious whispers, the apparitons and perhaps smokey. I have a strong feeling Miles will eventually come face to face with smokey.

I think Charolette will help us figure out stuff like the leg and foot statue with 4 toes, and the "temple" the Others retreated to.

Frank... He's just the pilot, but he may be the only one able to successfully navigate too and from the island.

For some good articles, check here:

http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/detail/index.jsp?uuid=2b279b4d-ff2d-470a-94d0-375fee2852bd

and here

http://www.docarzt.com/lost-news/lost-403-the-economist-a-delet.php

Edit: If you watch the video interview with Jeff Fahey (the helicopter pilot Frank), he hints that this may not be the first island he's every flone to before. What could that mean?

 

[RigaMortus2]

I see what you mean about it possibly being someone not yet on the show.

The technology thing might just have been a way to avoid inevitable questions of why the show isn't creating props of some futuristic (yet-to-be-invented) technology. I'd imagine it nearly impossible for a 90s era show to have depicted today accurately enough with tech. Though they might also be using that to their advantage and referring to a character trait. Truly, that pager was a very integral part of the sequence and needed to be addressed in some manner.

My friend said the same thing. But still, Locke could be forced to leave. If he is gagged and bound and transported off the island, not much he can do about it. Commit suicide once he is off the island because he can't deal with it?

Also, perhaps he is still on the island and operating off of it... Though it was implied the economist was at the same hotel as Sayid and the German girl, but that could have been a lie.

 

[RigaMortus2]

John Locke (the historical figure)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Locke

So, from here we see the historical figure is what one might consider to be an economist. It talks about property (what it means to own property), accumulation of property, price theory, and monetary thoughts. All things I would think an economist might know.

There are also a few buzz words (names) in here...

David Hume (or Desmond Hume?)
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (or Danielle Rousseau, the french woman).
Immanuel Kant... Have we met anyone with Kant as a last name? Perhaps we will...

 

[Remus Lupin]

Don't forget Daniel Farraday and C.S. Lewis.

 

[LightPhoenix]

As I'm sure everyone has noticed, I rarely get a chance to see the episode before the weekend. I'm usually too busy to watch it during the week.

First off... where the heck are Jin and Sun? This is the third episode they haven't been discernably in. Especially since they're two of the most ambiguous people as to which side they'd take. I wonder if they just said, "Screw this, y'all are whack," and made their own way... which would be interesting. I haven't even seen them in the background anywhere. It's odd.

Hurley gets all the best lines - "Oh great, the boat sent us another Sawyer." Priceless. I called it last week, and I'm keeping at it - Hurley and Locke will end up fighting over Team Locke. Especially since the cabin/Jacob showed itself to Hurley and wouldn't to Locke.

Jack - well done. You now have zero trackers on your team. The scene with him and the pilot was great though - "Was he a diplomat? No." That said...

Kate is totally a spy for Team Jack. First, it ties in nicely with Sayid being an assassin (Yay for A and B stories having a link!). More importantly, the whole exchange with Jack and Kate completely set it up. "I don't trust Locke," was basically Jack telling her to spy, and "Sawyer won't let that happen," was him telling her how to get in. Of course, Sawyer made a good case for her to stay...

I'm not a huge shipper, but Sawyer/Kate rocks. Especially Sawyer... great acting by the actor in that scene. Great directing too. It was just right.

The continuing abuse of Ben amuses me to no end. "I'm thirsty." Of course, Ben should always have the last line in every episode, because he's just awesome like that. "Good." Creepy.

Locke is full of crap. I said it before, I'll say it again... all the smart people stayed with Jack. There's been a lot of analysis of the show as faith versus science... I think it's more faith versus cynicism myself. Which is interesting that the more religious people on the show (Rose, Sayid) stayed with what I would consider the cynical side. I love Rose.

Which brings me to Sayid. Sayid is a badass. There is no other word to describe him. He's the ultimate pragmatist. Which makes Ben's comment at the end more interesting - Sayid going with his heart over his brains twice. I'm guessing that the first time was related to the O6 getting off the island. We've now seen three of the O6 completely messed up by getting off the island... but Sayid is the only one I think we've seen why.

One other point - the O6. Knowing Ben is off the island, I think we can assume anyone not on the manifest may have gotten off, but not gotten a settlement. This includes Juliet, Desmond, and I'm guessing Aaron.

 

[RichCsigs]

Which brings me to Sayid. Sayid is a badass. There is no other word to describe him. He's the ultimate pragmatist. Which makes Ben's comment at the end more interesting - Sayid going with his heart over his brains twice. I'm guessing that the first time was related to the O6 getting off the island. We've now seen three of the O6 completely messed up by getting off the island... but Sayid is the only one I think we've seen why.

I believe Ben was talking about Nadia as the other time.